Manufacture of producer-gas.



J. A; SIN GMASTER. MANUFACTURE 0F ERODUGER GAS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1910. 1,033, 127'. Patented July 23, 1912 2 SHEETSSHEBT] J. A. SINGMASTER. MANUFACTURE OF PRODUCER GA S.

AYPLIOATIOH FILED SEPT 20, 1910.

Patented July 23, 191 2.

a sums-sum Ill/4Y1 To all whom it may concern."

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES ARTHUR SINGMASTER, OF PALMER/TON, PENNSYLVANIA.

MANUFACTURE OF PRODUCER'-GA$.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J uly 23, 1912.

application filed September 20, 1910. Serial No. 582,827.

, Be it known that I, Janus An'rnun SING- MASTER, a citizen of the United States, re siding at Palmerton, Carbon county, Pennsylvania, have invented the new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture. of Pro ducenGas described in the following and true specification.

The improvement consists in the manner of presenting the fuel to the action of the draft element, and comprises a method wherein the fuel, such as coal or coke, is caused to advance progressively in the form of a relatively shallow stream or layer in continuous contact with an advancing and relatively shallow overlying gaseous current or draft which comprises air and moves in opposite direction to the fuel as more fully i described below.

' In the usual methods of making producer or generator gas, a draft of air is blown or sucked through a relatively deep bed of ignited fuel held in the casing of the producer and replenished from time to time. For such methods the size of the fuel particles must be large enough to allow the draft to pass through the deep bed without becoming unduly checked. and with substantial uniformity throughout the cross-section of the mass, while at the sametime the particles must be small enough to insure a desirable maxin'uun contact of the air draft with the fuel to-prevent unchanged air going through the fuel to react with the gas produced. This limitation as to the size of the fuel particles excludes the use of the cheaper forms of finely divided fuel such as culm bank coahcoal dust, etc. .h'loreover when the gas passes down aid through the deep bed of fuel, at the point where the gas es capes at the lower level, its reactivity 1s practically nil and much of the fuel for this reason is apt-to go to waste. it is one object ofthis invention to obviate this waste of fuel. On the other hand when the draft is upward through the fuel the maximum temperature is gained in the lower part of the fuel bed where the material is relatively rich in ash, which is apt to cause slugging, clinkering and other familiar difficulties, which can only be in part obviated by mix- 'mg air with endothermic bodies such as which become more conspicuously objectionable as the size of the individual fuel particles is diminished.

The present invention provides a gas producing method in which the several objections above-alluded to are largely reduced or avoided and in which the smallness of the fuelv particles is an advantage rather than a detriment. Instead of maintaining a deep stationary bed of fuel and passing the gas through it, I convert the fuel into a moving shallow layer, bed or stratum, and

cause it to advance through a heated zone.

The traveling fuel stream is supported on the floor of a low chamber or conduit in such manner as to leave a relatively shallow channel or passageway above it, be tween its upper surface and the roof or covering of the chamber. The draft current is passed through this channel, over and in .close contact with the shallow fuel stream and in a direction that is opposite to the general movement of the latter so that the products of complete combustion at first formed are thus moved from an oxidizing region into a region of reducing characteristicswherein they are sufiiciently deoxidized to acquire a desirable fuel value. On the other hand as the fuel progressively -moves forward it meets a draft currentof increasing oxidizing power until finally it is discharged as ash practically free of fuel value. The contact of the ash with the draft current indeed may be prolonged beyond this point since the relatively cool incoming'air will prevent slagging or clinkering, while the hot ash on the other hand tends to heat up the. air. 'The moving layer of fuel may be made to travel forward by the use/of any suitable means of convey-mare,

with a and the movement is conducted in such inanner that the shallow mass or layer of particles is keptwin constant commotion so as to bring difierent and constantly changing por tions or particles of the fuel to the upper surface. where it may meet and have contact with the gaseous draft. fuel are thus successively brought to the upper surface. The gaseous draft encounters the fresh fuel in increasing amounts as it progresses through its course, and the successive conversion of the oxygen first into carbon dioxid and then into carbon monoxid is thus insured in an effective manner.

In the accompanying illustration 1 have shown, more or less diagrammatically, certain organizations of apparatus elements indicating the operation and manner ofperforming the present invention, and wherein Figure 1 is a purely diagrammatical representation of the arrangement of the fuel and air current; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a gas producer under the present iii t ention, certain parts being shown in elevation', Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of a more elaborate and compact ap aratus' adapted for carrying out the method; and Figs. 4 and 5 are modified forms of structurc. In Fig.1, element 1 represents 'a conduitof anvsuitable refractory material and of considerable length. "Into this conduit at one end is .fed the fuel 2 which, advanta-- geously and for reasons of economy, is finely divided fuel. .A'ny suitable feeding device may be used, such as the hopper 'indicated at 3. The fuel is caused to advance along the bottom of the conduit as a thin traveling layer 4;, byv means not shown in this figure, but adapted to cause continual change in the arrangement or relative positions of the fuel particles. ,-The conduit. may rotate to cause forward feeding, but

this is the least advisable meansof propulsion since it is difficult to secure the best proportion between the fuel and the gas space there-above with a rotating conduit of any capacity. The conduit-should prefer-v ablv be relatively-thin or shallow so that in the length of the travel of the gas and fuel therethiough, each will have opportunity of thorough contact with the otherptherieby providing for the desired reactions between the gas and the surface of the fuel stream. The shallowness of the fuel and gas currents is thus somewhat length of the conduit.

of the fuel and of the draft. currentshould be such as to produce a combustible gas inimum amount of carbon dioxid. The test of apprbpriate proportions .is the attainment of complete reaction at the termination of the gas passage. The ash is removed from the conduit by theashcon,-

All. particles of dependent :on the The relative ratio veyer 5 and the hopper 6Iinw-which it these being indicated in Fig. -f1 a v conventional Way. Thejir current 15 111- troduced at the inlet 7 and 'point-jnear the end oithe'fuel course, wherethcitraveling layer is substantially a h'ot laycr os ash, and,

the draft: beingof maximum oxidizing ca pacity at this point, any articles of fuel still remaining unconsum opportunity of. combustion, while thev relathe ash have.

tive coolness of the entering air prevents undue temperature in the-ash at this point which might cau'sislagging and clinkering; Reciprocally, of course the air becomes heated, taking up heat from the ash. The development of heat is of course-exothermic being that due to the oxidation of thefuel by the airyandthis internal development of heat takes place generally throughout the. conduit .i-a'nd the total length of the latter is preferably such that beyond the]- point where the air current is all converted J: into fuel gas, there will be a, stretch of passage in which no further oxidizingchemical, 96

action can occur,. so that in passing therethrough the gas will merely be cooledby ployed.

The continuous straight conduit indicated by Fig. 1 would, 'of course, in most cases be somewhat. cumbersome and undesirable in practical operations, because of its length and for the reason that radiation losses would be excessive, and therefore it;is deassociation with the cool incoming fuel and awill thus leave the discharge passage 8 in a relatively cool state, having given up much of its heat to the incoming fresh coal, thereby preparing the latter for its subse- -quentcombustion,coking itand giving some' combustible gas, if bituminous fuel be emsirable to divide the course ofthe fuel and air currents; into successive sections which can be more compactly arranged in the producer apparatus 1 have found that a form of roasting furnace now on thjmarliet can be readily adapted to my p" rposes, and Figs. 2 and illustrate enough of such apparatus toindicate the manner of its use. In Fig. 2, the vertical cylindrical tow er 9 of brick, is provided in its interior with'a' series of superposed annular shelves ,10', each.

of which provided with one or more openings or drop-holes llleading to the next lower'shelf. The drop-holes ofadjacent shelves are arranged out of vertical.

alinement with each other. A central hol:

low shaft (12) is appropriately journaled,

as shown, to revolve within the series or stack of shelves, fitting the inner edges'of thesame in a substantially gas-tight "manner', and-a series of radial arms 13 is carried'b'y, the shaft extending-into the compartments between the shelves. Each "arm 13, of which there may be several for-each compartment, is provided with depending ous feeding plows or stirring blades 14, the whole organization being such that material deposited on the upper shelf will be progressively pushed or scraped by the arms or blades 14 around andacross that shelf and toward the drop-holes 11 thereof. through which it will fall onto the next lowe'r shelf,

on which it will be similarly moved, by the arms and blades in that compartment, and dropped to the next lower shelf. and so on. until the lowermost shelf is reached. from which the material will be discharged through a short elbow conduit lfifto be thence removed. The ash outlet is normally closed by a weighted llap door. as shown. for preventing escape. of the aircurrent therethrough. There is thus provided. in. compact .form, a very long conduit through which the shallow fuel layer 1- have above described may be caused to travel. The fuel is introduced to the first or uppermost shelf from a feed hopper. in-

dicated at l pr by any suitable continuineans adapted to prevent escape of gas therethrough. and the revolving blades 14 propel it with a plowing or stirring action around and across each annular shelf, thereby keeping it in constant agitation or commotion so that fresh fuel surfaces will be thereby presented to the action of the gas as above explained. The shelves should be placed close together as indicated so that the passage or gas space above the fuel layer on each shelf will form a relatively shallow passage. as indicated in Fig. 1. The air is introduced through an inlet 17 near the drophole of the lower shelf and passes upwardly through the successive drop-holes and successively through the shallow passages above the fuel stream on each of the annular shelves. burning with the t'u'el thereon in the'nuaintime. and

eventually becoming converted into fuel gas .in hydrogen. and it is possible to use balanced drafts" of air and-endothermic bodies, and particulartvif the draft should be introduced hot, and to llltllil use of other modificationsas desired. The movement of the air current is preferably produced by pressure rather than by suction.

\Vlure the fuel used is high in volatil constituents, as-the case with lignite. gas coal, etc., the coking in the later stage and formation of gases becomes very useful, and one embodiment of the invention contemplates, as an additional step in the procedure above described, a preliminary heating of the incoming raw fuel, before it meets the gas current, for the purpose of distilling off the volatile and tarry gases therein, so that the latter can be either utilized separately.

or introduced into the course of the reactive current at'a point where the heat will be sutlicient to break them up'into fixed gases suitable for admixture with the product gas. In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a general scheme of apparatus suitable for this purpose. The apparatus there shown is identical in structure with the apparatus already described nace proper, and the arrangement of their several communications. The uppermost chamber 18 has no gas outlet. The fuel in troduced therein by the feed device and moved over the chamber floor by the stirrer blades 14 thereof, falls through the long channelor conduit 15), which leads through but not into the next lower chamber, and is deposited on the floor of the. second lower chamber 20. In this. chamber it is worked by the stirrer armstoward and eventually falls through another similar conduit '21, isolated from the next lower chamber 26 and leading to the second lower chamber, i'narked 22. From thence the fuel may pass successively and directly into each of the next lower chambers through the drop-holes 11 'us in the case first described. The gas current passing from the lower chambers into the chamber 22 escapes into the chamber 26 and from thence through the fine. 24 around fuel chamber 20, into the intermediate chainexcept for the addition of several upper I chambers near the top of the producer furber 23, from whence it passes to the main gas outlet 25, giving up its heat in" the meantime to the fuel chambers 18 and 20 which its path embraces. These chambers, it will be seen, thus serve as mutlles in which the traveling fuel is distilled out of contact. with the reactive gas current. In the present instance, the resulting tarry gases and products are allowed to pass along with the fixed carbon of the fuel becoming purified thereby into contact with the gas current at a point. in the chamber 22, but they may be separately conducted to any desired point in the course of the said current, if preferred, so long as they thereby become subjected to a long enough and strong enough heating to break them up as above stated. and prevent. their appearance as tarry matters in the product gas. It will be understood that the number of mullle chambers thus added to the producer apparatus proper is dependent upon the amount and nature of the volatile matters in the particular raw fuel, to the end of sutliciently separating them from the fixed carbon therein, and that the number or extent of the'intermediate chambers condesired degree 0 heating. For this nurber 23.

If desired to introduce the tarry gases to the reactive current at a point beyond the point-0f introduction of the fuel, that is to say, at a point below the chamber 22, the

stirrer blades 14 are arranged on their arms in the chamber 20 so as to keep the passage Ell -leading to this chamber, always filled with fuel, as indicated at 28 in Fig. 5, which thus constitutes a gas seal confining the tarry gases to the muffle chambers, from whence they may be led off by a pipe or channel 29 or in any other suitable way, to the point Where it is desired to introduce them into the course of the fuel and gas currents, as for instance at 30.

The relative amounts of fuel and of draft current fed into the producer should always be such as to allow the production of a combustible gas with a minimum of carbon dioxid as an effluent. Advantagcously. the amount of air .in the draft current is restrict ed to an amount which will cause reactivity of the draft current to stop at a point sonic distance short-of the entry of the traveling layer of fuel into the apparatus. 7

What I claim is 1. The processof producing combustible gas which comprises forming and maintainlng a relatively thin traveling layer of-ignited fuel, passing above such traveling layer in an opposite direction of flow, a sub stantially unobstructed relatively thin current of'reactivegas, initially comprising air and continuing the travel of the fuel in contact with said gas until said fuel substantially disappears.

2. The process of producing combustible gas which comprises forming a relatively thin traveling layer of ignited fuel and maintaining the same in commotion during its travel, passing above and in contact with such traveling agitated layer, in an opposite direction of'flow, a shallow current of reactive gas suited to combine with such fuel and produce the combustible gas and continuing the travel of the fuel in contact with said gas.until said" fuel substantially disappears.

3. The process. of producing combustible gas which comprises forming and maintaining a relatively thin traveling layer' of ignited and oxidizing fuel, passing above such traveling layer in an opposite direction of flow a substantially unobstructed relatively thin stream of reactive gas comprising air,

the flow of the stream of combustible gas formed from said reactive gas being con- I tinned in contact with said traveling layer for a substantial distance past the point where reaction is substantially complete.

4:. The. process of producing combustible gas comprising, forming and maintaining a series of moving, relatively thln, layers of ignited and oxidizing fine fuel, one such layer supplying the next such layer, and

passing over the successive layers in a direction opposed to the general line of travel of such layers a relatively thin unobstructed st-r'eam of reactive gas comprising air, said stream being supplied in amount only sufii- 'cient toproduce combustible: gas.

5. The process of producing combustible gas comprising, forming and maintaining a series of successive, moving, relatively thin layers of ignited oxidizing fine fuel, one

such layer supplying the next such layer, and passing over the successive layers in a direction opposed to the general line of travel of such layers, arelatively thin unobstructe'd stream of reactive gas comprising a1r, the flow of the stream of, combustible gas formed from said reactive gas being continued in contact with saidtraveling layers for a substantial distance past the point where reaction 1s substantially complete.

6. The process ofproducing combustible i gas which comprises feeding ignited and OXIClIZIDg fine fuel in thin traveling layers over the floors and through a succession of connected. superposed and relativelylow chambers against opposed, relatively shalproduce combustible gas:

7. The process of producing combustible gas which comprises feeding fine fuel as a' thinftraveling layer through a conduit of progressively increasing temperature, conducting a relatively shallow current of reactive gas comprising aircoveii and in contact with such layer in .an opposite direction. and diverting such currentfrom contact with said fuel at a point where it has become freely combustible. y

8. Theprocess of producingbombustible gas, whichcomprises feeding and forming a layer of ignited an'd'oiidizing coal-dust upon the floor of a shallow chamberand causing the same to advance toward the point of exit by stirring or plowing the same, passing a relatively shallow unobstructed reactive gaseous current through said chamber above'and in contactwithsaid fuel layer, and withdrawing .said current from said chamber near the point of fuel feed, said current being supplied in amount chamber, stirring said layeriocause it to low. currents in the successive chambers of z reactive. gas comprising air, said currents being supphed in amount only sufficient to fur A...

amount of air supplied being merely that suliicient to allow the production of combustible 10. The process of producing combustible gas. which consists in preliminarily separating the volatile matters from the fixed carbon of the fuel, advancing the. latter through a long conduit in contact with a relatively shallow overlying unobstructed counter-current of reactive gas comprising air, and converting said separated volatile matters into tixcd gases by introducing the same into a hot part of the said gas current.

ii. The process of producing combustible gas. which consists in feeding fuel through a heated muffle and thence advancing the same a shallow traveling layer in contact with a shallow counter current of reactive .amprising air.

12. The process of producing combustible gas gas, which consists in feeding fuel through a mullie chamber and thence advancing. the same to an ash outlet, as a traveling fuel layer. advancing a shallow overlying substantially unobstructed counter current of reactive gas comprising air from the ash outlet to the mnfile, in contact with said fuel layerqand transferring the heat of said current to the said mufile chamber.

if). The process of producing combustible s. which comprises feeding fuel into a wanducting said carbon and the volatile matti in separated condition to a point in a me combustion passage. advancing the. carbon through said passage as a traveling fuel layer. and simultaneously passing an ov'erlying substantially unobstructed counter -;o'rcnt of reactive gas comprising air through said passage in,contact with the fuel layer, whereby the said volatile matters ecome converted into permanent gases.

i l. The process of producing combustible gas which comprises advancing a shallow trawling layer of fuel in one direction in a gion and advancing ashallow travwt of a current of reactive comair thereover in the opposite direcl.- :;31 l in contact with said fuel, the

t of air in said. current being merely nt, to maintain reaction in said fuel ed muflle chamber to separate the vola gas which comprises advancing a shallow traveling layer offuel in one direction in a. heated region and advancing a shallow traveling layer of a. current of reactive gas comprising air t-hereover in the opposite direction and in contact. with said fuel. the amount. of air in said current being merely sufiicient to maintain reaction in said fuel and to produce combustible gas, andtransfering the heat of the products of reaction to said traveling layerof fuel beyond the point of initial reaction.

16. The process of producing combustible gas which comprises advancing a shallow traveling layer of fuel in one direction in a heated region and advancinga shallow traveling layer of -a current of reactive gas comprising air thereover' in the opposite direction and in contact with said fuel, the amount of air in said current being merely sufficient to 'maivntaina reaction in the travcling layer of fuel to adistance less than the total path of travel of such layer.

17. The process of producing combustible gas which comprises forming or maintain ing a relatively thin traveling layer of heated fuel and passing above such traveling layer in a generally opposite direction a relatively thin or shallow contacting draft current of a fuel-oxidizing character. the temperature conditions and the relative amounts 'of said fuel and of said draft current being so correlated that the draft curcombustible condition ,while the fuel is substantially completely consumed.

18. The process of producing combustible which comprises forming or maintaining a relatively thin traveling layer of heated fuel and passing above such traveling layer in a generally opposite direction a relatively thin orshallow contacting draft current of 'a fuel-oxidizing character, the temperature conditions and the relative amounts of said fuel and of said draft current being so correlated that the draft current passes away from contact in a freely -combustible condition while. the fuel is substantially completely consumed, said contact however of the draft current with the heated fuel being maintained for a time after reaction there-between ceases.

gas which comprises forming or maintaining a relatively thin traveling layer of heated fuel and passing above suclrtraveling layer in a generally opposite direction a relatively thin or shallow contacting draftcurrent of a fuel-oxidizing character, ,the temperature. conditions and the relative amounts of said fuel and of said draft current being so correlated that the draft current passes away from contact in a freely 15. The process of producing combustible 19. The process of producing combustible rent passes away from contact infa freely combustible condition while the fuel is subspecification in the presence of two vitstantially completely consumed, and that the nesses. I v draft current passes for a time lIi contact with a traveling layer ofheated ash prior JAMES AMHUR SINGMASLEI 5 to encountering combustible fuel in said Witnesses:

layer. A K. JAGKS,

In testimony \VhGLGOfi'I have signed this LTZZH} KUAUss. 

